Early racing looks a loser

However, this plan fails to consider just about every other affected party. It is hard to see how racecourses could reap the benefits, as the timing of a morning meeting would dictate that few from outside the immediate vicinity would make the journey if they had to get up at the crack of dawn.

Trainers, jockeys, and stable lads, who work long hours, many juggling riding or watching work in the mornings with racing in the afternoons, would be asked for longer days with earlier starts.

Morning racing will not be convenient for the television schedules - already a decisive factor in so many other sports - and we are, after all, in the business of reaching as large a captive audience as possible.

Finally, the staff in the betting shops, who are bombarded with a mixture of horse and greyhound racing throughout the afternoon - and nights during the summer - would lose the couple of hours' window in the morning that they can use to put the shop in order.

Occasionally a morning fixture is the sensible alternative, like the Bangor fixture on FA Cup final day which starts an hour early to finish in time for the football, but the BHB have stated that the morning fixtures will not replace existing meetings, just serve as an addendum.

With a calendar that is in danger of being saturated, if it is not already, this in itself is enough to set the alarm bells ringing.

The only people that can gain from this decision are the major bookmakers and we give them more than enough help without return. The squeals of anguish from the Big Three over the first Sunday meetings were almost enough to see it abolished.

While I have reservations about Sunday racing - I believe that a day off should be given in lieu during the weeks when we race on the seventh day - there is no doubting its appeal to the public. While racecourses continue to attract decent crowds, many of whom are first-time racegoers, there is a strong case for the continuation of Sunday racing.

This is highly unlikely to be the case with racing on Saturday mornings. If the BHB have any sense, they will shelve this idea immediately.

qIT is true - miracles really happen.

Aidan O'Brien, already hallowed in Ireland and to whom the word, ''genius,'' is often applied, has trained Second Empire, the stable's main Derby hope, to a recovery of Lazarus proportions. The colt, who just three weeks ago was taken out of the Derby betting after suffering a set-back, is fit enough to take his place in today's Irish 2000 Guineas.

The stable, and owner John Magnier, are confident enough about his chances to have King Of Kings and Saratoga Springs out of the race. If any other proof was needed, stable jockey Christy Roche rides the colt above the other two O'Brien entries.

At the overnight stage, Magnier owned an interest in seven of the 15 entries and, while it was inevitable that he would not want to pit all of his colts against each other, especially with one eye on their stud values as he owns the powerful Coolmore Stud, the decision has cost Britain a chance to land the classic.

Victory Note, owned by Magnier and Robert Sangster, and the winner of the Poule d'Essai de Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) has been pulled out of the race. He is now to be aimed at the St James's Palace Stakes, for which, it must be noted, he does not have an entry and would need to be supplemented at a cost of #20,000.

While trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam has denied that the colt's withdrawal was at the request of the owner, it is likely that his comments are weighted heavily with diplomacy. While everyone remembers the fact that Sangster missed out on the 1000 Guineas following the sale of Cape Verdi, there are fewer who point out that Chapple-Hyam missed the classic win as well.

The young trainer, one of a growing number who are set up and salaried by owners in these days of growing financial insecurity, is dependent on big-race success. While he more than many can understand the need for a Flat owner, no matter how wealthy, to balance the books to an extent, it seems cruel that he should have to suffer as a result.

qLadbrokes have received a boost in their attempts to take over Coral when Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister, Mary Harney, confirmed the clearance, without conditions, of the acquisition of their rival's business in Ireland.

Just as is the case in Britain, the deal had been referred under the relevant Monopolies and Mergers Acts, but sadly the Irish did not see fit to stall, or even stop the deal.

Much has been said by Ladbrokes as to the relative merits of their take-over, none of which seemed have any real justification. Their claim that the punter could only benefit is a nonsense, as any lessening of competition cannot possibly be termed of benefit to the consumer.

It has to be hoped that Margaret Beckett and her department veto the take-over. The only possible good to come out of a scenario like this is if the Tote could be strengthened, which would lead to increased profits to racing.

qPEOPLE have been bombarding the Racing Post (incorporating The Sporting Life) all week with letters as to whether or not Sheikh Mohammed should supplement Cape Verdi for the Derby.

Almost all the letters complain that journalists are making their suggestions through their wallets, having had substantial ante-post bets.

To declare my interest up front: I have not had a bet on Cape Verdi, and think Godolphin should take the chance of creating history by adding her to the colts' Classic. They have the Oaks winner in Bahr already.